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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Dichloromethane (methylene chloride)

Goleta Water District

Methylene chloride is a common industrial solvent used for paint stripping, vapor degreasing, printing, electronics manufacturing and cleaning. It causes cancer and liver damage in animal studies. Read More.

Surface and groundwater can be contaminated with methylene chloride from industrial releases and landfill leaching. The EPA considers methylene chloride likely carcinogenic to people. Long-term ingestion of drinking water with methylene chloride contamination can cause liver damage and cancer. Occupational exposure to methylene chloride and other solvents has been linked with increased risk of miscarriage. Birth defects have also been observed in studies of laboratory animals exposed to methylene chloride during pregnancy.

Click here to read more about carcinogenic VOCs.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

77

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND100ND
2015ND200ND
2016ND140ND
2017ND90ND
2018ND100ND
2019ND140ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 4 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 4 ppb for dichloromethane (methylene chloride) was defined by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a public health goal, the level of a drinking water contaminant that does not pose a significant health risk. This health guideline protects against cancer.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 5 ppb

The legal limit for dichloromethane, established in 1992, was based on analytical detection limits at the time that the standard was set.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-02-189588-001-1220ND
2014-03-189590-001-1127ND
2014-04-229590-001-1125ND
2014-08-279590-001-1057ND
2014-09-309590-001-1140ND
2014-10-219590-001-1100ND
2014-12-039590-001-1100ND
2014-12-049590-013-1133ND
2014-12-099590-034-1200ND
2014-12-299590-035-1212ND
2015-01-159590-001-1157ND
2015-02-049590-033-1158ND
2015-02-129590-001-1242ND
2015-03-119590-001-1238ND
2015-03-269590-031-0955ND
2015-04-159590-026-1128ND
2015-04-169590-001-1129ND
2015-06-299590-001-1016ND
2015-07-239590-001-1107ND
2015-08-119590-001-1025ND
2015-08-139590-013-1250ND
2015-09-169590-001-1209ND
2015-10-019590-034-1205ND
2015-10-139590-001-1230ND
2015-10-289590-032-1020ND
2015-11-109590-001-1020ND
2015-11-189590-018-1221ND
2015-11-239590-035-1100ND
2015-12-029590-001-1204ND
2015-12-089590-001-1110ND
2016-02-089590-001-1049ND
2016-03-309590-018-0915ND
2016-05-189590-013-1058ND
2016-06-149590-026-1040ND
2016-06-149590-018-1040ND
2016-07-199590-038-1100ND
2016-08-029590-026-1050ND
2016-08-029590-042-1030ND
2016-08-109590-041-1100ND
2016-08-169590-040-1030ND
2016-08-249590-001-1028ND
2016-10-059590-033-1045ND
2016-10-109590-045-1110ND
2016-11-169590-033-1045ND
2017-03-079590-001-1406ND
2017-03-289590-001-1000ND
2017-04-129590-013-1200ND
2017-05-049590-033-1100ND
2017-08-039590-042-1100ND
2017-11-079590-035-1030ND
2017-11-209590-041-1000ND
2017-11-279590-058-1100ND
2017-11-289590-059-1030ND
2018-03-069590-032-1045ND
2018-03-079590-034-1030ND
2018-03-159590-031-1030ND
2018-03-202920-035-1030ND
2018-03-209590-035-1030ND
2018-03-269590-001-1030ND
2018-04-119590-018-1030ND
2018-05-149590-033-1045ND
2018-05-159590-026-1045ND
2018-10-039590-013-1057ND
2019-04-249590-042-1100ND
2019-04-259588-041-1030ND
2019-05-029588-038-1030ND
2019-05-099588-040-1030ND
2019-05-149588-058-1030ND
2019-05-219588-058-1030ND
2019-07-109588-031-1205ND
2019-07-129588-035-0825ND
2019-08-279588-018-1020ND
2019-09-179588-033-1015ND
2019-10-109588-013-1125ND
2019-10-149590-001-1205ND
2019-11-139588-026-1123ND
2019-11-149588-059-1015ND